This is one of several recent books about Elizebeth Smith Friedman and her husband William, the "parents" of the NSA and modern American cryptology.
William Friedman, as the male in the couple, tended to get more contemporary fame and historical recognition, but this book, based on extensive notes and documentation from Elizebeth that have only recently been declassified, shows that she was at least as brilliant and prolific in her code-breaking career as he, and made her own unique and until now largely-unrecognized contributions.
Of particular note were the chapters on her early work during the 1920s and 1930s with the U.S. Coast Guard cryptology unit, which was formed during the Prohibition era, and led to her being able to identify smugglers, map their networks, and break up many of their rum-running operations.
From there, she and her Coast Guard colleagues transitioned to breaking Nazi codes during the World War II U-boat war in the Atlantic, and also disrupting extensive Nazi spy operations throughout South America, for which J. Edgar Hoover largely stole the credit (the F.B.I. had to use her and her team for most of their code-breaking, since they had no such resources or abilities of their own).
This biography is another inspiring addition to recent books about the previously unknown contributions and heroism of women in World War II, and a detailed account of the famous spy couple, and their careers, love and family as well. Highly recommended.
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